Abia by-election: Our candidate will win– PDP Chairman, Okere

The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Abia State, Rt. Hon. Asiforo Okere has expressed confidence that the party’s candidate, Chief Chimaobi Ebisike would win the forthcoming Aba North and South Federal Constituency by-election.

In a statement on Tuesday, the state’s PDP leader, Okere, pointed out that the opposition parties in the election were only visible in noise making.

Okere said the PDP was currently mobilizing eligible voters to ensure victory at the poll, adding that the party is far ahead of its major opponents, All Progressive Grand Alliance and the All Progressives Congress

FG begins construction of water projects in Ogoni communities

The Federal Government on Monday flagged off the construction of six water facilities in Ogoniland, Rivers State.

Flagging off the projects in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Minister of Environment, Mohammad Abubakar, said eight additional water projects would be inaugurated in the area.

Abubakar said the first phases of the projects would be cited in Bori, Khana, Khana Local Government, in Barako, B-Dere and K-Dere communities, Gokana LGA, in Korokoro, Tai LGA and in Alesa and Ebubu communities, Eleme LGA, all in the state.

Abubakar announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had insisted that nothing short of the best should be delivered to the Ogoni people.

Chairman of Khna Local Government Area, Lah Loolo, assured of the council support in making the project a reality and to ensure that it will be sustained.

FG sends rapid response team to Kano over strange illness

The Federal Government has deployed the National Rapid Response Team to Kano State to unravel the mystery of a strange illness in the state.

the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at the joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

The team will also manage victims of the illness which has infected over 200 persons with four dead.

The strange disease is confirmed in 13 local government areas, including eight metropolitan councils in the state.

Ihekweazu said the Kano State Ministry of Health reported a cluster of cases in 13 LGAs within the state with most of the cases having fever, vomiting, yellowish eyes and abdominal pain as symptoms.

He said the agency had also collected additional human and environmental samples for metagenomic sequencing which is a method for detecting rare new causes of illness.

Arms fund: Reps probe panel summons Emefiele, COAS

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Need to Review the Purchase, Use and Control of Arms, Ammunition and Related Hardware by Military, Paramilitary and Other Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria on Monday summoned the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

They are to appear before the committee in April 2021.

The committee, at its investigative hearing, expressed its displeasure with the non-appearance by heads of Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies, as well as military and paramilitary agencies, billed to appear before it.

Those who were expected to appear before the lawmakers were the Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning; of Defence; of Interior; Central Bank of Nigeria, Bureau of Public Procurement; and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

No fewer than 19 Super Eagles players have arrived at camp for the remaining two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho.

According to the team’s media officer, Babafemi Raji, the players were already in camp as at late Monday night.

The players in camp are captain Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Henry Onyekuru, Oghenekaro Etebo, Adekunle Adeleke, Chidozie Awaziem, Abdullahi Shehu, Anayo Iwuala, John Noble, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Tyrone Ebuehi, Maduka Okoye, Jamilu Collins, Francis Uzoho and Paul Onuachu.

18 players now in camp are Musa, Troost-Ekong, Aina, Ajayi, Onyekuru, Etebor, Adeleke, Awaziem, Shehu, Iwuala, Noble, Iwobi, Balogun, Aribo, Ebuehi, Maduka, Collins, Onuachu, Francis Uzoho

The players are camped at the Eko Hotels and Suites and will begin training on Tuesday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos ahead of the build-up to their games billed for Saturday and Tuesday next week.